Activate service on your iPhone with Visible


Before activation checklist
Physical SIM or pSIM
Embedded SIM or eSIM
How does dual SIM work?

Is what you’re looking for not here? Try one of these articles:

Physical SIM or pSIM activation A physical SIM card used to activate service on your device.
Embedded SIM or eSIM activation A digital SIM built into your mobile devices used to activate service on your device.

 

Before activation checklist

  

Physical SIM or pSIM

Note:

  • If you're transferring service from one device to another or switching from pSIM to eSIM, see Switching is simple for more details.
  • Transferring your phone number from another carrier? If you have received a notification from Visible that the transfer is complete, your phone is ready for activation.
    • See the Visible port-in page for more information on how to transfer your number to the Visible network.
  • To ensure the activation process goes smoothly, see the Before activation checklist.
  • Ready to switch to eSIM? It's SIMple! Follow these steps for eSIM success. 

 


Follow these steps to install your SIM card and activate your service:

Step Action
1

Go through the Before activation checklist before proceeding with the following steps
2

Go to your Visible account through:


Note: A “Visible SIM Card” screen displays.
3

Check off each of the following checkboxes:

  • Are you on WiFi?
  • Is your phone updated?
  • Is your battery charged?
  • Is your SIM installed?
4

Select Continue.


Note: A “We need to verify your ICCID number” window displays.
5

Provide your ICCID in the field provided.

Note: This page will provide you 2 options on how to locate the ICCID:

  • Option 1: Use full ICCID number to Verify:
    • Samsung – Open Settings App > tap About Phone > Status Information > SIM card Status > ICCID
    • Google – Open Settings App > Tap About Phone > navigate to ICCID
  • Option 2: Use last 5 digits of ICCID to verify:
    • Use the image provided on the page to find the ICCID on the SIM card packaging.
6

Click Next.


Note: An “Activate your service” screen appears.
7

Verify the Visible plan and payment method you chose are displayed.

  • You can edit your choices as necessary.
  • If you are satisfied with your choices, continue to Step 8.
8

Tap the Activate button.


Note:

  • This usually takes up to 5 minutes, but could take longer.
  • A “Success” screen displays.
9

Click Continue.


Note: Once activation is complete, check to make sure your service is working.

 

Embedded SIM or eSIM

Newer devices are able to be activated using an eSIM! 

Your eSIM is a digital SIM built into your mobile devices. This lets you activate a device on a cellular network without a physical SIM card.

The benefit of having an eSIM is you don’t have to wait for Visible to send you a physical SIM card. Everything can be done from the comfort of your own home as long as you have an eSIM compatible device.

Note:

 

 

Is my iOS device eSIM compatible?

Follow these steps to check if your device is eSIM compatible:

Step Action
1 Open the Settings app.
2 Navigate to Cellular
3 If eSIMs section is present, your device should have eSIM capabilities
4 Use the Compatibility Checker to make sure your device can be used on the Visible network.

 

Activate with an eSIM

Note:

  • If you're transferring service from one device to another or switching from pSIM to eSIM, see Switching is simple for more details.
  • Transferring your phone number from another carrier? 
    • eSIM users: 
      • New device – must first activate their new service before requesting a number transfer to Visible.
      • BYOD – you will be provided the option to transfer your number in or receive a new number.
    • See the Visible port-in page for more information on how to transfer your number to the Visible network.
  • To ensure the activation process goes smoothly, see the Before activation checklist.

 

 

If you're transferring service from one device to another or switching from pSIM to eSIM, see Switching is simple for more details.

Follow these steps to activate a new eSIM on your iPhone: 

Step Action
1

Go to your Visible account through:


Note:

  • If you bring your own device:
    1. Wait until the “Just to confirm” screen appears.
    2. Continue to Step 2.
  • If you buy a new phone from Visible, continue to Step 3.
2

Select Yes, proceed.


Note: A “Visible eSIM Card” screen displays.
3

Check off each of the following checkboxes:

  • Are you on WiFi?
  • Is your phone updated?
  • Is your battery charged?
  • Is your SIM installed?

Note:

This usually takes up to 5 minutes, but could take longer.
4

Click Activate.


Note:

  • A “We're setting up your Visible service plan” screen displays.
5

Click Continue.


Note: Your phone system is going to display an "Add Cellular Plan" screen.
6

Click Add Cellular Plan.


Note:

  • Your iPhone system is going to display a "Default" screen.
    • This function can be customized later in the Settings of your iPhone.
  • Your iPhone system is going to display an "iMessage & FaceTime" screen.
7

Choose 1 of the following options:

  • Primary
  • Visible eSIM
8

Select Continue.


Note: Your iPhone system is going to display a “Cellular Data” screen.
9

Select Visible eSIM.
10

Tap Continue.


Note:

  • A “Connecting to network” screen displaying the process progress.
  • A “Success!” screen appears,when the activation ends.
11

Click Proceed to Account.
12

Review your new eSIM and ensure Mobile data is toggled on.


Note: you will automatically return to the Visible app.

  • Activating service could take up to 15 minutes, so sit back and relax.
  • The word “Visible” along with service bars will show up in the top left corner of your screen when your phone is ready for you to start using service
  • There is no need to restart your phone.
13

Check to make sure your service is working.

 

QR Code Activation

If you run into some issues during the activation process, don’t worry! The QR code activation process will be initiated.

 

Note:

The QR code is only visible during activation.


Follow these steps for successful QR code activation:

1 Grab a second device (computer, laptop, tablet, or another phone) to display the QR code.
  • If you don’t have a second device available, just tap Enter code and see No second device below for more instruction.
  • You can also use the QR code from a saved image.
2 On your second device, log into your Visible account, and head to the Account Overview section.
  • This is where your QR code will display.
3

Open the camera app on the phone you’re activating and point the camera at your QR code.
4

When the pop-up link appears, tap it and follow the prompts to set Visible as your cellular network.

 

QR Code Activation from a Saved Image

Note:

This functionality is only available on iOS update v17 or above–no second device required

 

1  Save the QR Code from your Visible Account to the phone’s Photos
2 Open the Settings app on the device you are activating.
3 From your home screen, choose Settings>Cellular>Add eSIM>Use QR Code>Open Photos
4 Select the QR image
5 Follow the prompts on your device to set Visible as your cellular network
6

Wait for ‘Cellular setup complete’ confirmation



After scanning QR code

1 On the Activate eSIM page, tap Continue to activate and install your eSIM.
2 Follow the directions on the screen, and tap Done when prompted.
3 Return to the Visible app once Cellular Setup is complete, and tap Check Status to check if activation is complete.
  • This could take up to 15 minutes, so sit back and relax.
  • The word "Visible" along with service bars will show up in the top left corner of your screen when your phone is ready for you to start using service.
Note:
  • Even if you received an error message at the end of QR code activation, complete this step.
  • There is no need to restart your phone.
4 Check to make sure your service is working.

 

How does dual SIM work?

Any eSIM compatible phone has the ability to use more than 1 SIM with the same or different carriers!

Using more than one SIM card means you have more than one number connected to your phone. Perfect for consolidating your work and personal phone into one place.

Note:

  • Transferring your phone number from another carrier? See the Visible port-in page for more information on how to transfer your number to the Visible network.
    • SIM card users – If you have received a notification from Visible that the transfer is complete, your phone is ready for activation.
    • eSIM users –  eSIM users cannot transfer a number from their previous carrier until after eSIM activation is completed.
  • To ensure the dual SIM activation process goes smoothly, see the Before activation checklist.

 


Head to Dual SIM on an iOS device to learn more about dual SIM capabilities, and how to set your default SIM.

 

If you need assistance, feel free to reach out to the Care team through the Visible app or chat online.


Last Updated date: Sep 16, 2026